Visible index and visible record system



July 19, 1932. F. D. POWELL 1,867,710

VISIBLE INDEX AND VISIBLE RECORD SYSTEM Filed April 17. 1930 [72 e 72 Fran @Pozuell Patented July 19, 1932 UNITED/STATE Mm! Freon FRANK n. POWELL, or CEIGAGO, ILLINOIS, assieivon To ACME cAnnsYs'rni/r company, or 'cnicAeo, rumors, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS VISIBLE nvnnx an]: vrsIBLn nriconn SYSTEM Application filed April 17,

This invention relates to improvements in visible index and visible record systems, and refers more particularly to improvements in the drawers or trays carrying the index or record data, which drawers or trays, in one commercial embodiment, are removably mounted in superimposed relation for slidable movement into and out of a cabinet, to successively conceal and make accessible the data on the index or record cards. In such construction, the inner edge ofeach drawer ortray is removably connected to runners or to a. shelf, preferably in such'a manner that 1 'the connection permits the drawer to pivot and hang downwardly.

In one specific embodiment, the present invention has for an object to providea construction comprising a master tray removably mounted for sliding movement into and out of a cabinetin a conventional manner,

and an auxiliary tray or trays movably connected to said master tray in such a manner that, when in open or accessible position,the auxiliarytray is movable to a position permitting access to the index or record data on either tray. and when in closed or concealed position (that is, when the trays are slid into the cabinet) the auxiliary tray is superim-- posed on the master tray. 7

The arrangement is such that the master tray and its auxiliary tray occupy substantially the same space in the cabinet heretofore allotted to one tray; thus, the present invention permits of greatly increasing the capacity of a cabinet without proportionately increasing the size of the cabinet. I In on'e'speci-fic embodiment, the auxiliary tray may be hingedly connected to a'lateral edge, of the master tray, but in its broad concept the invention contemplates any type of connection between the master tray and the auxiliary tray which will permitaccess to the data-on any tray when open and at the same time permit the auxiliary tray to be mounted in superimposed relation on the master tray when the latter has been slid into the cabinet. It is an objectof the present invention to 1930.- Serial 110144902.

rality ofrecord cards orindexstrips and, i when in closed or superimposed position, the

plurality of trays occupy substantiallythe same space in a confining cab-inetheretofore alloted to an individual tra-y. I A feature .ofthe invention resides in the provision of a tray construction which when opened supports a plurality of visibleindex strips or record cards on each tray,'and due to the rigidity of: construction, permits en--.

tries to. be made on the cards with comfort, and when in superimposed position presents a' multiple tray construction characterized by the absence of lateral relative motion;

Another'salient feature of the present invention resides in the provision of means for eliminating wear upon the surfaces of the cards disposed upon the trays, when said trays are being slid into and out of the cabinet, due to the edges of the cards rubbing upon the. upperportion of the drawer space. Said means comprises a foldable tray, the

- edges ofthe cards upon the auxiliary or upper tray of which, when the tray is in folded or closed position, lightly restuponthe cards upon the master tray, and when the combination tray is slid into andout ofthe cabinet, no relative motion exists between the cards on the respective trays, and hencethe cards are subjected tono rubbing or wearingactionr Other and further important objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detail description;-

' In the drawing, Fig; 1 is a perspective view of my improved tray construction in open position illustrating its use witha cabinet. :Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, illustrating more'particularly the construction shown in Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tray "in folded position.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the hinge connecting the master and auxiliary trays.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 designates a cabinet forv th e'housing of visible. index or records provided with a plurality of compartments 2 'into which drawers 3 are adapted to be slidable. Mounted within each of the drawer compartments 2 and positioned for restricted slidable motion adjacent each of the inner walls of said cabinet is a runner 4, preferably constructed of metal and provided with a lower. flange 5. The runner 4 may also be provided with an upper flange 6, which is more or less restricted as to width relative to the lower flange 5. The upper and lower flanges 5 and 6, respectively, may terminate at one end in a curved portion, as shown best at 7 in Fig.1.

Each of the drawers 3 may comprise a master tray 8 and an auxiliary tray, or trays, 9. Master tray 8 may be provided with an "extension 10, which latter has a hinge pin 11.

Each of the extensions 7 may be provided with a slot 12 into which hinge pin 11 is adapted to beinserted. As can be readily seen by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the pin 11 may be free to rotate in the extension 7, and in addition may be free to slide between the lower and upper flanges 5 and 6, respectively.

- Hinges 13 may connect the longitudinal sides of each of the trays 8 and 9. A bar 14 may be positioned transversely across a portion of the web 15 ofeach of the trays 8 and 9, said bar being pivotally mounted at 16 upon hinge body 17. The outer ends of bars 14 may be bent, as shown at 18 in Fig. 4 to abut each other. In this manner, when tray 9 is foldedon tray 8, as shown best in 4, a space 19 may be provided between the trays. In order to provide a symmetrical space 20 between the opposite sides of the trays8 and 9, the hinge body 17 may be provided with appropriately spaced journals or lugs 21, so that when trays 8 and 9 are folded into closed position, bars 14 will contact the ends 22 of hinge body 17, thereby properly spacing trays 8 and 9.

It canreadily .be'seen that, bythis construction, when the trays 8 and 9 are in open position, the webs 15 thereof will be maintained in a common plane, inasmuch as "flanges 23 of each of. the trays 8 and 9 will contact the lower surface of hinge body 17.

It is also apparent thatthe trays, when'in closed position, will be maintained in a firm relation to each other, and relative lateral motion thereof will be prevented by the'fixed positions of the pivot pins'16 to bars 14 and the edges 22 of each body [17.

In addition, the upper flanges 6' of the runners 4, when the tray is being slid into the cabinet, are adapted to be disposed in the "spaces 19 and 20 and may serve as a guide for said tray assembly. t' is to be understood, of course, that the flanges 6 may extend inwardly only a relatively short distance and do not contact the outer edges of the cards 24 mounted upon the trays. V c A plurality of visible index or record cards 24 provided with eyeletsorhinges 25 may be shown best in Fig. 1.

The outermost position which the elements 4 may assume is shown best in Fig. 2. Upon returning drawers 3 to the drawer compartments 2, the elements 4 slide inwardly in said compartments a relatively short distance.

I have illustrated and described herein a construction in which only one auxiliary tray is used with a master tray. It is obvious that an auxiliary tray may be connected to both lateral edges of the master tray instead of only one edge as illustrated and described. I have also illustrated and described the connection between the master tray and the aux-.

iliary tray as taking the form of a hinge. It

is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to a hinge connection, since the invention in its broader aspects contemplates any type of connection between the master and auxiliary trays which will permit of independent lateral movement of the auxiliary tray'relative to the master tray. Thus, for instance, the auxiliary tray may have a sliding connection with the master tray.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a cabinet, drawers mounted for slidable movement in said cabinet, each drawer comprising a master tray connected to an auxiliary tray, and a plurality of visible index or record data cards disposed upon each of said trays.

2. In combination, a cabinet, drawers mounted for slidable movement in said cabinet, each drawercomprising a master tray hingedly connected to an auxiliary tray, and a plurality of visible index or record data cards disposed upon each of said trays and means for maintaining the trays of each drawer in spaced relation with respect to each other. Y

3. In combination, a cabinet divided into compartments, runners in each compartment mounted for restricted slidable movement therein, a master tray hingedly and slidably tray.

4. In combination, a cabinet divided into compartments, runners in each compartment mounted for restricted slidable movement therein, a master tray hingedly and shdably positioned upon said runners for supporting visible index or record data elements, an

auxiliary tray hingedly connected to said master tray, and means for maintaining said second tray, when in open position with rev spect to. the base tray, in a plane common to the plane of the base tray, comprising upstanding flanges provided on each of the adjacent edges of the trays anda hinge conngcting the trays against which said flanges a ut.

5; In combination, a cabinet divided into compartments, runners in each compartment mounted for restricted slidable movement therein, a master trayhingedly and slidably positioned upon said runners and in substantially the same plane thereof for supporting visible index or record data cards, an auxiliary tray hingedly connected to said master tray, and means for maintaining the second tray in a parallel adjacent plane to the bases trayv when the trays are in folded position.

6. In combination, a cabinet divided into 7 compartments, runners in each compartment mounted for restricted slidable movement therein, a master tray hingedly and slidably positioned upon said runners for supporting visible index or record data cards, an auxiliary tray hingedly connected to said master tray, and means for maintaining the second tray in a parallel adjacent plane to thebase tray when the trays are in folded position, comprising a hinge having a spaced double pivot, each tray being connected to-one pivot, each tray when w in closed position being Iadapted to contact a portion of the hinge o y. y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANK D. POWELL. 

